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Topic Review (Newest First)

05-31-2010 07:08 AM

garyguss

Can send them off to Sailcare and have them cleaned and re-resinated by the pros, then clean them yourself with Detergent and water.

05-28-2010 03:50 PM

ottos

Have you tried a sail loft? More expensive than a washing machine - but it's another option.

05-27-2010 10:43 PM

Dennisail

Thanks for all the replies and advice. Keep the ideas coming.

05-27-2010 03:42 PM

KeelHaulin

As I said before BE CAREFUL. Washing with a pressure washer is NOT being careful. You will blow holes in the fabric and destroy the resin that is in the fabric to keep it crisp and tightly woven. Holes in the fabric will reduce the pressure differential across the sail surface and it will result in a "blown out" sail. Remember; the sail needs to be air-tight; and blasting water through it will surely damage/destroy this.

Also; try not to use too much oxalic; remember it is an ACID. Use it sparingly; and if the stain won't come out; just live with it. The stain is doing less damage to the sail cloth than the cleaner.

05-27-2010 01:45 PM

QuickMick

I take mine to one of the DIY carwash places

05-27-2010 07:32 AM

tap

Another rust stain treated the same way:

05-27-2010 07:25 AM

tap

To get rid of rust stains, try oxalic acid. It's sold as wood bleach at hardware stores. I had a spinnaker with some nasty rust stains on it and it did a good job getting them out. Do not use normal bleach on rust stains, it will set them rather than get them out. It's also very bad for nylon spinnakers.

Starting rust stains, after one treatment with oxalic acid, and then after a second:

Another stain which took only one application to get out:

05-27-2010 03:41 AM

Tech2015

please provide some washing machines snaps regarding this topic

05-26-2010 12:19 PM

merc2dogs

I normally just throw them in the swimming pool. It's a small pool, but it's large enough to soak them without 'packing' them in.

If there is a spot that needs to be scrubbed I lay them out on the grass and use purple power (similar to simple green) with a soft brush and hose it off.

Also do the brush routine if they have something on them that I don't want in the pool. When I purchased my trailer sailor, the sails had been stored in an open tote, with a couple bottles of purplish 2 stroke oil, nasty looking stains that came out very easily with the purple power and brush.

Ken

05-25-2010 02:01 PM

GraemeInCanada

I can second the other suggestions here to soak in a tub overnight or more with some detergent and then get it out on the lawn and give it a little bit of elbow grease. Hang it out to dry and you're done!

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